Hibiscus plant named ‘Golden Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Golden Wind’, characterized by its very glossy, undulate, very dark green leaves; upright, compact, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for container production; very freely flowering; numerous golden yellow-colored flowers with red “eyes”; short peduncles; good resistance to flower bud abscission; relative resistance to diseases common to Hibiscus grown under Florida production conditions; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rose-sinensis and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Golden Wind.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with uniform and compactplant habit appropriate for container production, ealry and uniformflowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color,resistance to flower bud abscission, and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross made by the Inventor in Alva,Fla., of a proprietary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis selection, designated ascode number YB-1242, as the female, or seed, parent with the Hibiscusrosa- sinensis cultivar Light Wind, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,593, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Golden Wind wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla.,on Sep. 29, 1995.

Compared to plants of the white-flowered female parent, the proprietaryHibiscus selection code number YB-1242, plants of the new Hibiscus aremore upright; have smaller and darker green foliage; and are lessattractive to whiteflies. Plants of new Hibiscus flower about 4 to 6days later; are less susceptible to diseases common to Hibiscus grownunder Florida production conditions; and differ in flower color comparedto plants of the male parent, the cultivar Light Wind.

Plants of the new Hibiscus are distinguished from its sibling, thecultivar Coconut Wind, U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No. 09/333,128with this application, in flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Alva, Fla., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Golden Wind has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Golden Wind’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Golden Wind’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Very glossy, undulate, very dark green leaves.

2. Upright, compact, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetricalplant habit that is appropriate for container production.

3. Very freely flowering, numerous golden yellow-colored flowers withred “eyes” and short peduncles.

4. Good resistance to flower bud abscission.

5. Relatively resistant to pathogens common to Hibiscus grown underFlorida production conditions.

6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the cultivarSundance, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparsions conductedin Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of thecultivar Sundance in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than plants of thecultivar Sundance.

2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller leaves than plants of thecultivar Sundance.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are smaller than flowers ofplants of the cultivar Sundance.

4. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Sundance differ in “eye”or throat color.

Plants of the new Hibiscus also can be compared to plants of thecultivar Sahara Wind, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,879. However,in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscus differ from plants of the cultivar Sahara Wind in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than plants of thecultivar Sahara Wind.

2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have darker green and much smaller leavesthan plants of the cultivar Sahara Wind.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are smaller than flowers ofplants of the cultivar Sahara Wind.

4. Plants of the new Hibiscus are less attractive to whiteflies thanplants of the cultivar Sahara Wind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Golden Wind’.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Golden Wind’. Both photographs were taken when plantswere about 7 months old. Flower and foliage colors in the photographsmay appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Alva, Fla, with five plants per 16.5-cm containers, inpolyethylene-covered greenhouses during the late spring under conditionswhich closely approximate commerical production. Night temperaturesranged between 13 to 24° C. and day temperatures ranged between 21 and32° C. Plants were about 7 months old when the descriptions were taken.In the description, color references are made to The Royal HoriculturalSociety Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Golden Wind.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis proprietary selectiondesignated as code number YB-1242.

Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Light Wind,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,593.

Propagation:

Type.—By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 28 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Rooting habit.—Moderately vigorous, thick and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright, outwardlyspreading, compact, uniform, dense and symmetical plant habit.

Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about four lateral branchesdevelop after removal of terminal apex.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 25 cm.

Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 45 cm.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.Texture: Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough. Color: Immature:Green, 146A. Mature: Brown, 200A to 200B.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.

Length.—About 8.5 cm.

Width.—About 5.4 cm.

Shape.—Ovate.

Apex.—Narrowly acute.

Base.—Obtuse to slightly cordate.

Margin.—Serrate.

Aspect.—Undulate.

Texture.—Glabrous and glossy on both surfaces.

Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: Darker and greener than 146A. Youngfoliage, lower surface: Close to 146A. Mature foliage, upper surface:Much darker than 147A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147A.

Petiole.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Mostlysmooth with very fine pubescence on upper surface. Color: 200A to 200B.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or during periods ofwarm weather.

Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf axils. Veryfreely flowering with usually about three or four flower buds and /oropen flowers per terminal apex. Flowers face upright and slightlyoutward.

Flower appearance.—Rounded, golden yellow-colored petals with red “eye”.Flowers are open for about one day before closing. Flowers persistent.

Flower diameter.—About 11.5 cm.

Flower bud (just before showing color).—Rate of opening: About one ortwo days depending on temperatures. Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter:About 1.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic.

Petals.—Texture: Smooth, satiny. Arrangement: Corolla consists of fivepetals that overlap. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex. Margin: Entire,but slightly ruffled. Length: About 8.2 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Color:Upper surface: Golden yellow, 14A to 14B. Lower surface: Golden yellow,14A to 14B. Throat or “eye”: Red, 45A; glossy.

Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx. Shape:Linear. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color, outer surface: 146A.

Bracts.—Appearance: About eight fused at base. Length: About 1.2 cm.Width: About 3 mm. Shape; Linear. Color: 147A.

Peduncles.—Length: Short, about 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm at base.Angle: Upright to slightly bent. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:Slightly pubescent. Color: Above knuckle, green, 146A; below knucklegreen, 146A, with brown overtones.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about 57.Stamen length: About 5 mm. Filament color: 12A. Anther size: About 1 mmby 0.5 mm. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium:Pistil length: About 9.25cm. Style color: Base, 17A; midsection andapex, 12A. Stigma appearance: Five, rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2mm. Stigma color: Close to 23A.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under Floridaproduction conditions have shown to be relatively resistant to pathogenscommon to Hibiscus.

Seed Production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Golden Wind’,as illustrated and described.